My plan for Afternic

[DomainGist]

I'm not a fan of the way that Godaddy is monopolising the domain industry, but the reality is that we all have to use them to some extent. After some reflection on this Boost programme this is what I'm doing:

1. All nameservers pointed to Atom.com landers.
2. Premium Atom domains will go on Afternic with the usual 10% markup.
3. I'm also going to add Standard listings to Afternic with a 10% markup however, to cover the 'boost' premium (which I'm opting into). I really support Atom and what they are trying to do, am hopeful that they'll become too big and successful to feel the need to sell out to GoGreedy.
4. No floor price. My BIN price is my BIN price, and its 10% higher than the price on Atom. As far as I'm concerned this cash grab leaves no margin to give your brokers wriggle room. Either the buyer pays 10% more on Afternic or they work out that its cheaper on Atom, because the fees are cheaper on Atom. Essentially, my buyer is paying the fee premium, not me, the fact that Godaddy is not the value proposition is not my concern.
5. On Sedo meanwhile my Standard listings will still be the same price as Atom standard listings. Unless they decide to put up their fees, in which case same attitude will be adopted.
6. I prefer Dynadot and Namesilo for expiring and closeout acquisitions, but would be naïve to think that I can disregard GoDaddy expiring entirely, but on the odd occasion that I do win an expiring auction on GoDaddy, I'm transferring out to Dynadot at the earliest opportunity. Dynadot is another business that I want to support, domainer friendly platform with fair price reductions based on portfolio size. I want Dynadot to gain market share, I'm already slowly transitioning my Namecheap domains to Dynadot, I want to get to the position where every domain of mine is on Dynadot.
7. I've removed all domains from Dan entirely, clearly being mothballed, if Afternic display on Dan its up to them, but 0 domains in my portfolio on Dan.com now. Appalling that the Dan.com founders sold out to Godaddy really, when so much of their customer based liked using them and supporting their early growth for the simple fact that they weren't Godaddy.

Using Afternic is imperative for profitability, but doesn't have to be on their terms, the domains are our assets remember.

 

[davidc1]

I'm not a fan of the way that Godaddy is monopolising the domain industry, but the reality is that we all have to use them to some extent. After some reflection on this Boost programme this is what I'm doing:

1. All nameservers pointed to Atom.com landers.
2. Premium Atom domains will go on Afternic with the usual 10% markup.
3. I'm also going to add Standard listings to Afternic with a 10% markup however, to cover the 'boost' premium (which I'm opting into). I really support Atom and what they are trying to do, am hopeful that they'll become too big and successful to feel the need to sell out to GoGreedy.
4. No floor price. My BIN price is my BIN price, and its 10% higher than the price on Atom. As far as I'm concerned this cash grab leaves no margin to give your brokers wriggle room. Either the buyer pays 10% more on Afternic or they work out that its cheaper on Atom, because the fees are cheaper on Atom. Essentially, my buyer is paying the fee premium, not me, the fact that Godaddy is not the value proposition is not my concern.
5. On Sedo meanwhile my Standard listings will still be the same price as Atom standard listings. Unless they decide to put up their fees, in which case same attitude will be adopted.
6. I prefer Dynadot and Namesilo for expiring and closeout acquisitions, but would be naïve to think that I can disregard GoDaddy expiring entirely, but on the odd occasion that I do win an expiring auction on GoDaddy, I'm transferring out to Dynadot at the earliest opportunity. Dynadot is another business that I want to support, domainer friendly platform with fair price reductions based on portfolio size. I want Dynadot to gain market share, I'm already slowly transitioning my Namecheap domains to Dynadot, I want to get to the position where every domain of mine is on Dynadot.
7. I've removed all domains from Dan entirely, clearly being mothballed, if Afternic display on Dan its up to them, but 0 domains in my portfolio on Dan.com now. Appalling that the Dan.com founders sold out to Godaddy really, when so much of their customer based liked using them and supporting their early growth for the simple fact that they weren't Godaddy.

Using Afternic is imperative for profitability, but doesn't have to be on their terms, the domains are our assets remember.

For your standard listing, you'll have to pay 30% fees if afternic sell your domains and your dns are not their !

 

[DomainGist]

For your standard listing, you'll have to pay 30% fees if afternic sell your domains and your dns are not their !

If I list a domain on Atom standard listing for $1000 and sell it, I'd get $925

If I listed that domain on Afternic for $1300 I'd get $910.

Hmmm, interesting. 30% uplift it is then, but I'll call it 25%.

I'll list my standard listings at 25% Premium at Afternic.

 

[DN_Hunter]

What about certain clauses in the Afternic Membership Agreement. I think I have to re-read all these Afternic terms and re-think how/where I list my names...

Part 7, A.5

1. Seller must provide Afternic prompt notice. Under seller notifies Afternic that a seller has sold the Listed Name(s) outside the scope of the Fast Transfer partners and/or process, Afternic and its Fast Transfer partners shall retain the right to sell the seller's Listed Name(s) until seller confirms that Afternic is in receipt of seller's notification.

Part 7, B.7
Additionally, the Buy Now Price specified for any listing on Afternic must be equal to the price listed on any for sale lander used by Seller.

 

[Future Sensors]

Part 7, B.7
Additionally, the Buy Now Price specified for any listing on Afternic must be equal to the price listed on any for sale lander used by Seller.

Exactly. Many sellers are unaware of this issue, but maybe Sellers cannot be entirely blamed for that.

It’s more questionable that Atom, as a major marketplace, continues to require a +10% Afternic markup to their Sellers, despite being informed through various channels about conflicting TOS issues. Sellers can simply never comply with both Afternic’s and Atom’s Terms of Service simultaneously, as they conflict with each other.

 

[VadimK]

Part 7, B.7
Additionally, the Buy Now Price specified for any listing on Afternic must be equal to the price listed on any for sale lander used by Seller.

Good luck executing this paragraph.

 

[pb]

If only there was some rule stating that a company having a de-facto monopoly on a given field can't stifle competition by unfair business practices.

 

[johnn]

I don't care much about commission as long as the name is sold.
Buy good names and make profit.
Buy crap names and you never have to pay for commission because they will not be SOLD.

 

[Future Sensors]

I don't care much about commission as long as the name is sold.

Now that you mention this, you're probably willing to pay even more than 30% to GoDaddy.

It makes you a truly special person, John.

 

[Acroplex]

7. I've removed all domains from Dan entirely, clearly being mothballed, if Afternic display on Dan its up to them, but 0 domains in my portfolio on Dan.com now. Appalling that the Dan.com founders sold out to Godaddy really, when so much of their customer based liked using them and supporting their early growth for the simple fact that they weren't Godaddy.

Using Afternic is imperative for profitability, but doesn't have to be on their terms, the domains are our assets remember.

Great points and overall approach. Glad to see others using common sense and that this angle isn't seen as "extremist" (was accused of this today!)

The Dan founders included early investors who had the right to a pay-day. I don't blame them for cashing out. Just like Frank did when the GD train arrived at the gates. That being said, we don't have to sell out or use a platform that does.

Afternic is in perpetual beta. They don't deserve the asking fees, certainly not the 20%+ that's been dished around as true value of the platform.

Call me sentimental but I'm waiting for Dan to be done. It won't take much longer from what I hear.

I've been testing Afternic for LTO, it's cheaper to use than Dan's but also has some quirks such as failed payouts. Again, I'd rather use as needed, than being forced to using the faux approach that GoDaddy's register path is God's gift to domain investors.

 

[DomainGist]

I don't care much about commission as long as the name is sold.

Cool, let me outbound your portfolio then, I'll take 70%

 

[Future Sensors]

(was accused of this today!)

That's just cruel.